home to fewer than 30,000 people, 60 miles north of new york city. founded in 1705, it played a role in the revolutionary war and the underground railroad. this is the place where the game scrabble was invented, where the town's symbol is a rooster. where people move for safety and schools. >> people come to newtown for the schools. the husbands will sacrifice the commute just to come to newtown because it's a little bit farther than anywhere else. >> reporter: this beautiful, bucolic spot is a strange, surreal backdrop for tactical teams in full body armor, with long guns drawn. >> really? here in newtown? this small town. you read about this everywhere else but here. and it's heart wrenching for the children. for the parents and grandparents and everybody. >> reporter: it feels like a dream and a bad dream. >> it's a nightmare. >> reporter: as reality sinks in here, the feeling of one foloca describes as magical insulation, has been shattered. >> they keep saying on the tv, newtown's such a nice town. it doesn't matter. nice town, not a nice town.